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Confused about glazing?

When it comes to new or replacement windows, there are lots of things to consider and all the various options can make the process rather confusing, particularly when choosing glazing.

The type of glazing you choose will not only impact how much light comes into your home, but also how much heat is retained or lost; in fact, it’s quite a technical subject but one that can make a real difference to the performance of your new windows.

So, to make things a little simpler and to help you to make the best glazing choices for your property, here’s some guidance on the most important things for you to consider:

Energy efficiency

Are you looking to improve your home’s heat retention and keep those expensive energy bills down? For many of us the answer to this question I’m sure will be yes! If this is on the top of your list then there are a number of ways this can be achieved.

As a starting point increasing the amount of glass panes can provide instant benefits. For instance installing double glazed windows in a previously single glazed home can result in a saving of £160 a year on energy bills. For ultimate efficiency triple glazed windows offer even greater levels of thermal performance. Consisting of two air or gas filled spaces and three panes of glass, as opposed to two in double glazing, the extra cavity and layer of glass retains even more heat, keeping the house warmer still.

In addition to multiple panes of glass, the space between them is just as important. Glazing that has inert gas filled cavities, commonly argon, or krypton, as opposed to just air will improve its thermal efficiency, so look out for this.

It’s also worth considering whether the glazing has additional performance enhancing coatings e.g. glazing that has Low-E (low emissivity) coatings will help to stop heat from being radiated out onto the colder outside surface and instead reflect it back into the room, resulting in better U values being achieved.

Design

Is there a particular look you’re after or need to adhere to, because of the area you live in?

If looks are the highest priority, you can be sure your windows blend in seamlessly with the style of your home, even if you live in a conservation area, when opting for a sensitive style. There are many glazing design choices you can make to ensure your new windows look as good as they perform.

Glazing bar designs add character and authentic touch to a window, putting a personal stamp on the exterior of any home. For a country cottage look consider a cottage bar design or alternatively for those period properties there are Victorian bar designs.

There’s also patterned glazing options available for an artistic flair and to create a sense of privacy, should you have a window that is closely overlooked by a neighbour or from the street, obscure glazing can make all the difference.

Acoustics

Perhaps you live on a busy road? If so, the type of glazing you choose can impact on the amount of noise transference. Triple glazed windows offer an even higher level of performance and will provide increased sound-proofing qualities. However, you may need to sacrifice the thermal performance to gain acoustic performance and vice versa, so it is important to find the right balance.

There’s also special acoustic performance glazing available should external noise be a real concern.

Special requirements

For enhanced security, double glazed windows with laminated glass or a triple glazed window will do the trick, and if you have a low level window, laminated or toughened glass would be recommended. Alternatively for a window that is high up, a self-cleaning coating can be applied to make this easy to maintain.

So, whilst there are a number of things to bear in mind when it comes to choosing the right glazing for your windows, there’s a solution to suit any property.

If you want to learn more about how glazing can impact on the performance of your windows the Green Building Advisor website is a really useful resource.

To explore the full range of JELD-WEN timber windows visit the website or you can find your nearest retailer here.

Charlotte Coleman

Welcome to the JELD-WEN UK blog, designed to keep you up-to-date on the latest developments in doors, windows and stairs. You’ll find articles on renovations, trends, energy efficiency, new products, fitting advice and much more. We are interested in your opinions, so feel free to comment on our articles.